Abstract:
The occurrence or non-occurrence of both glacial moraines and past sea levels in the Terra Nova Bay area was investigated with a view to establishing a glacial chronology to supplement the Dry Valleys sequences examined in the hydrology/glaciology programme. In particular, the relationship between present ice margins and Holocene moraines were studied, together with the structure of any unusual ... ice margins. This was a reconnaissance expedition and therefore only basic surveying, measuring and hand excavating investigations were completed. The areas where the expedition worked were given impromptu names for reference and do not indicate their current accepted names. All sites were near Terra Nova Bay. The first camp was located at Enigma Lake. The glaciers in this area were investigated including the Strandline Glacier, Boulder-clay Glacier to Hook Bay area and the Amorphous Glacier. The Enigma stream channel was studied, the sediments on Enigma lake were mapped, the ice was drilled to sampled the lake (it was found to be dry based) and an aerial photography flight was made in an attempt to map the area. Enigma Lake and its outlet channel was leveled and mapped using a full station electronic distance measuring instrument. Adelie cove was also investigated and an unmapped penguin colony was discovered. A population count was estimated. The camp then moved across the Nansen Ice Shelf to Backwater Glacier. The southern Dry Valley and northern dry valley in this area was investigated briefly but too much snow prohibited investigations. The camp was then moved back to Adelie Cove where small alluvial fans over raised beach ridges were investigated. Penguin bones for radiocarbon dating were collected, fan deposits were excavated, the raised beaches were surveyed and the rock glaciers behind the camp was studied. Six measurements using radio-echo sounding were made on the rock glaciers in the cove. The camp was moved to Inaccessible Island where the gravels of the raised beaches were excavated for bone samples for radiocarbon dating and the raised beaches and excavations were surveyed.